Interview
Visual Creator & Tea Educator – Germany & China
Liyang, the creator of TeeRegen, offers a visual interpretation of tea culture that transcends vessels. Working with layers of tea stains on paper, she traces the journey of the tea bowl from its ancient roots to its avant-garde reimaginings. Her practice blurs boundaries between art and documentation, presenting tea as both subject and medium. Through workshops, tastings, and striking visual installations, Liyang expands the dialogue between tea, culture, and community. Her contribution to The Art of Tea adds an interpretive lens—reminding us that tea’s story is not only brewed in cups but also written in memory, image, and imagination.
1
How did you first begin creating visuals for tea, and what drew you to this way of explaining tea culture?
It started very simply. I felt something was missing in tea—a clear, accessible way to see its culture. So in 2023, I designed a postcard showing the six tea categories in colors. It was just a small idea, but when I shared it with the tea community, the response was so positive that I kept going. From there, it spiraled into more and more explorations, combining my love of tea with a desire to make it easier to understand.
2
Your visuals for The Art of Tea trace the journey of the tea bowl across cultures and time. What inspired you to focus on this form, and how did you develop the narrative across the five pieces?
he tea bowl felt like the perfect symbol—simple yet rich in history. I chose five regions that reflect both tradition and my own background: China, Japan, and Korea, alongside Germany and the Czech Republic. Each piece incorporates motifs that are typical of that culture, like cranes and maples in Japan or dragons and phoenixes in China. It’s almost like painting landscapes into a bowl. I wanted to show how the tea bowl, though small, carries centuries of history and artistry across continents
3
Tea is clearly both personal and ancestral for you. How has your family’s connection to tea shaped your way of teaching and creating art?
Growing up in Germany with roots in a small tea village in China, tea was always present—but it didn’t feel special. Every spring, we’d order green tea from the village, but for me it was just normal life. Later, when I studied and explored tea more deeply, I realized how unique it was. That’s when I began to connect both to the quality of the tea and to my ancestry. My parents saw it as ordinary, while for me it became a bridge—between Europe and China, between past and present.
4
Your technique is so distinctive: you use actual tea stains in your art. How does tea itself become part of the work?
For me, tea is both medium and metaphor. I paint with layers of tea stains, then scan and integrate them digitally so the colors won’t fade. Each stain is like a trace of a tea session—fleeting, imperfect, but deeply connected to the moment. It reflects wabi-sabi: beauty in what is temporary. In this way, tea leaves its own story on the paper.
5
TeeRegen balances education and whimsy. How do you bring together historical depth with playfulness?
My goal is always to take something complex—ancient texts, confusing terminology—and distill it into something simple, colorful, and joyful. I read old Chinese texts, modern interpretations, and resources in both English and Chinese. From there, I extract the essence and turn it into visuals that invite curiosity rather than overwhelm. It’s serious knowledge, but told in a way that makes people smile.
6
What do you hope people will take away from your installation at The Art of Tea—especially those new to the world of tea?
Curiosity. I hope viewers leave with a spark, a desire to explore tea further. Tea culture is so rich, not just in Asia but also in Europe and beyond. If my visuals inspire someone to pick up a teacup with more awareness, or to wonder about the history behind it, then I’ve achieved my goal.
WORKSHOP
The Art of Teaware through the Ages
DATE: 4 October 2025, 18h30 - 19h30, 1st Floor
Organized by Liyang Sheng, TeeRegen
COST: 21 EUR
Tea tasting with Si Chá’s finest teas straight from the Wuyi mountains*.
REGISTER VIA EMAIL
Join us for an immersive workshop exploring how centuries of Chinese tea culture have shaped the design and symbolism of teaware. Teaware has been discussed as early as the first book on tea culture. From the masterpieces of Yixing to elegant Jingdezhen porcelain, we will journey through the history, aesthetics, and cultural meanings steeped in each teapot and teacup. We will discuss how tea, spirituality, economics, language, art and science have left their marks on teaware. Whether you're a tea enthusiast, design lover, or just interested in ceramics — this session will illuminate teaware from a new angle, one sip at a time. The workshop will be accompanied by a tea tasting with Si Chá’s finest teas straight from the Wuyi mountains. Let the tea speak — and let the teaware tell its story.
* Teas by Si Chá can be purchased in our Tea Boutique throughout all exhibition duration.
TEA BOUTIQUE - Preview
“Through layers of tea stains on paper, I let tea tell its own story — tracing the journey of the tea bowl from its ancient roots to its avant-garde reimaginings.”
Liyang, Creator of TeeRegen
